After reading Chapter 1.1 (pp. 7-16), you will present both a visual and written summary of your understanding of that section. The written summary will follow the guidelines given in class. For the visual aspect of the summary, you will find 8 images that correspond with detail presented in your written summary. The images you use can be direct representations of the ideas you summarize or they can be slightly abstracted representations. In either case, the images should be presented in the same order as you present the ideas in your summary. Within the written summary, you should parenthetically reference the image after you present the corresponding idea with a figure number (i.e. Figure 1). You will use Slide.com to present your images. You should cite the URL of each image either on the image itself (small in the bottom corner) or below your written summary.
Once you've created the slide show, copy the code, click the "Edit" button, click the TV widget button, choose "slideshow" in the left side window, paste the code into the box, click "Save" in that window, then click "Save" in the Editor. Please put your slide show ABOVE your written summary. Put a line between your and the next person's work. DON'T FORGET TO WRITE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR WORK!
Valerie Kung's Summary
Psychology is a very complex, and sometimes a difficult subject, to understand (Figure 1). Psychology explains why we do the things we do. In this course, we’ll learn about why we do certain things. We will study 3 levels of analysis; the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural level. We study three because of the complexity of the subject, and looking at different levels can help to better explain psychology. Psychology actually means “reasoning about the soul”, according to its Greek roots “psyche” and “logos”. Today, it is believed that both “nature [and] nurture… [determine] behavior” (Crane & Hannibal 2009) (Figure 2).
Astrologists believe that their predictions of people are correct; however their predictions are unsupported opinions. Astrology (Figure 3), and other unsupported opinions, is called popular psychology, or pop psych. In psychology, there are different “branches” (Figure 4); there are social psychologists, neuropsychologists, cognitive psychologists, and cross-cultural psychologists. There is a newer “branch” of psychology called neuroeconomics. Neuroeconomics is neuroscience, economics, and psychology all put together into one “branch” of psychology (Figure 5).
There are many theories in psychology (Figure 6). In Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), a theory is “an explanation for a psychological phenomenon”. Most of the theories are based on concepts. Professor Carol Dweck came up with a theory of mindsets. She said that those who have a fixed mindset tend to not take on challenges and don’t try hard at things because they are already smart enough. They also don’t like to have someone do better than them or to be corrected for something they did wrong. On the other hand, those with a growth mindset try hard and take on challenges. They don’t mind being corrected and tries to do just as well as others to succeed (Figure 7). People who have a growth mindset are completely opposite than people who have a fixed mindset. It is important to research any theories or ideas we come up with. Carol Dweck did a study to develop her theories on mindsets. We should also be critical and decide whether or not information we read at school or on the internet is true and backed up by evidence (Figure 8). With reference to: Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
In chapter one section one of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009) they discusses the definition of psychology. This section describes the science of psychology, how it psychological knowledge is found, and what is found from theoretical explanations and empirical investigations.
According to Crane and Hannibal people have a huge appetite for psychology. This is shown by all of the self-help books (figure 1) that people are buying and the psychological magazines they are subscribing to. People go to Psychics (figure 2) to have their future predicted. People use psychology everyday when they describe how they do things using words like beliefs, motives, love, or things like childhood experiences. People don’t just do this about themselves; they do it about other people around the world. This is not the same as the scientific psychology; it is called “folk psychology” A good general definition of psychology given by Crane and Hannibal (2009) is: “Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment.”
Now that I have given a good common definition of psychology I will go into psychology’s diversity. Psychology is very diverse and goes into both natural and social sciences. The knowledge of psychology comes from sciences such as biology, sociology, or anthropology. Psychologist can gather data in many ways. Some of these ways are very simple, such as interviews (figure 3) or simple experiments, while others can be complex, like brain scans (figure 4).
Psychology is an old science. It originally started out as part of philosophy. The ancient Greeks discussed the philosophy of the mind (figure 5). In fact the word “psychology” comes from two Greek words. “Psyche” meaning the mind or soul and “logos” which means reason. Putting those together we can see that psychology literally means the reasoning of the mind or soul. Psychology became its own science in the middle of the 19th century when people began to take interest in how the brain works (figure 6).
Psychology has a few important building blocks (figure 7). Theories are one of these important building blocks. Theories are explanations for psychological phenomenon. Theories are not laws of science; they are not 100% certain, but they are probable. Critical thinking is also part of psychology. We do this every day and sometimes we don’t even realize it. Critical thinking is when you think about things to try to figure out if they are true or not.
Due to the fact that I don’t know much about psychology I think this writing on section one is a good overview. I may have gone into too much detail at times and I may have left something important out. I can say that everything I summarized made sense to me.
In conclusion the most important thing about psychology is that it is always changing and evolving (figure 8) as we humans are.
Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology.Oxford: Oxford University Press.
A self help book:http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/10500000/10506787.jpg
A psychic:http://blippitt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/psychic.jpg
An interview:http://real-timeupdates.com/it/uploads/pics/cache/1217616675.international-job-search
A brain scan:http://www.nextnature.net/research/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/brain-scan_530.jpg
Greek Philosophers:http://kejda.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/schoolathens.jpg
One of the people who got psychology started in the 19th century (Wilhelm Wundt):http://www.psych.upenn.edu/history/wundt.jpg
Some building blocks:http://students.ou.edu/G/Dariela.C.Gonzalez-1/pics/Building%20Blocks.jpg
A sample of evolution:http://www.creationevolution.net/user/cimage/explosm-evolution-t-shirt.jpg Well Done! - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009
Steffon Lassman's Summary
In the book Psychology by Crane and Hannibal, it gives a description on what psychology is. The book describes it as a study on how the environment and internal processes can affect a person’s mindset (Figure 1). This book also tells us about different studies of psychology and it is an integrated with other topics, like biology and anthropology, instead of being a topic of specific study.
The second picture I chose to represent the different subjects that psychology has involved in it (Figure 2). The four examples, as used in the book, for subjects integrated in psychology are biology, anthropology, and sociology. The amount of diversity that psychology has to offer has many advantages because it allows people to explore different occupations rather than having one job that only a select people can achieve (Crane & Hannibal 2009).
The next picture I chose it to show how psychology came about(Figure 3). It first started out as philosophy, and psychology literally means “philosophy of the soul”. It was brought up as how did humans get to know the world, what are people by nature, and other questions that seem to be just too far out for us to answer (Crane & Hannibal 2009).
My last picture represents the process of critical thinking (Figure 4). This type of thinking is defined as being able to assess ideas and make good judgments on a topic providing information to support you claim. Although this is one of the important concepts of psychology, how can it be used? Well, it is used to looking at theories. For example, if the theory has certain information that proves it wrong or right, and how does that information show that (Crane & Hannibal 2009). Source
Crane, J. & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology Course Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sites for Pictures
ed.isu.edu
www.sanjuancollege.edu/ lib/researchguides/
ilearnincambodia.org
csu.bc.ca You reference 4 pictures in your summary, but there are only 3 in the slide show. Instructions required 8. Be sure to review instructions before submitting work. Also, the pictures (and the reference to them) shouldn't be leading the summary. The pictures are meant to be secondary visual support only referenced parenthetically for this assignment. - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009 Jaime Lin
What is Psychology? In Psychology, by Crane and Hannibal (2009), psychology is defined as “the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment.” (pg.8) (Figure 1) The word psychology comes from the two Greek words “psyche” and “logos”, and literally means “reasoning about the soul”. (pg.11) Although there is no one single definition for psychology, the world “scientific” is an extremely important part of the given definition and refers to the systematic and controlled study of human behavior. The terms “mental processes” and “behavior” are also extremely important terms, in that “mental processes” are covert behaviors such as attention, memory, emotion, and attitudes (Figure 2), while other behaviors are overt and can be directly observed or measured.
Epistemology is a term referring to how humans come to know the world. Epistemology comes from the Greek words “episteme” (knowledge) and “logos” (reasoning). This is referred to as “ways of knowing” (11), and is part of what is called cognitive psychology.
There are three levels of analysis in psychology; the biological level, cognitive level, and sociocultural level. Psychology is a very diverse science; it incorporates natural and social sciences such as biology, sociology, and anthropology. Experiments are also conducted, such as brain scanning (Figure 3), to study various topics including love, body language, memory, emotions, motivation, stress, and social development. A newer area of cognitive psychology is neuroeconomics which combines neuroscience, economics, and psychology all into one. (Figure 4)
Pop psych or psychobabble is a term used for popularized psychological theories or concepts that may not have a basis in psychology. The difference between scientific psychology and pop psych is that scientific psychology is based on actual research evidence while pop psych is not, and is based on unsupported beliefs instead. (Figure 5) Psychologists refer to theories and empirical studies when publishing their work. These are building blocks of scientific psychology which provide support for evidence and research. (Figure 6)
Professor Carol Dweck from Stanford University created a theory referring to people’s mindsets that relates to success. She discovered that ‘many talented people do not achieve their potential.’ (pg.12) She concluded that the way people explain things lead to success, rather than pure intelligence or talent. Dweck inferred that people with fixed mindsets believe intelligence is static, and that in wanting to appear intelligent, they don’t accept challenges and ‘consider effort to be a waste of time’. (12) On the other hand, people with growth mindsets believe that intelligence can be developed and therefore enjoy challenges, learn from criticism, find inspiration from others who succeed, and are motivated through setbacks rather than deterred. (Figure 7)
Carol Dweck supported her theories through systematic research. “Scientists are trained to be skeptical and critical.” (pg.14) Like Dweck, one should think critically in order to be able to assess information to know if it is well supported and provides evidence. (Figure 8)
In Psychology Course Companion Chapter 1.1 “What is Psychology?” by Crane and Hannibel (2009), we are introduced to the concept of psychology, what it entails, and how scientists utilize psychology in our lives. We also learn the benefits from being able to improve our thinking.
Psychology related information is passed through a wide range of media today (1). People are able to access books on psychology or watch related TV shows. Since psychology was studied by physiologists in the 19th century(2), there has been an increasing awareness on the subject, and people strive to learn more about the way our brains function (3), and what makes us do what we do. Yet like most forms of information, there are forms of psychology that are based on beliefs and are not based on actual facts. This is known as popular psychology. Another type of psychology is known as “common-sense psychology”, which is a type of everyday psychology we apply in our lives “according to beliefs, motives, and plans” (Crane and Hannibel, 2009).
Psychology offers a unique diversity (4), including its complexity and the wide range of data collection methods (5) available to all psychologists. There is not a single solution, nor a single explanation to a situation in psychology. Since human beings are all unique, the same psychological theory may not apply to all. For example, the notion of “self-efficacy”, defined as someone’s own belief in success affecting their effort, differs for each person. Other studies have been done to prove that successful people aren’t necessarily the most intelligent or talent people, but rather, the people who are capable of explaining.
Psychology also serves to improve our lives. For example, studies done on growth mindset VS set mindset proves that motivation can be learned and practiced, even though some may be naturally self-motivated. These studies help us understand ourselves better and can help us learn what needs to be improved and boosts our self-confidence (6). Though psychology touches upon biology, anthropology, and sociology,(7) it is still a unique subject that can aid us to become more aware of ourselves and the actions we take.
Psychology’s complexity and diversity amazes and interests me. Although studying psychology takes great effort, time, and money, I believe that the ultimate results of those studies will only serve to be beneficial. People who become more aware of themselves can learn their advantages, and what we can do to put ourselves in more advantageous situations. The growth mindset experiment was done on seventh graders, and there was obvious difference between those who learned it and those who did not. In this way, students can learn to study more efficiently, and at the same time be more motivated to learn (8).
Psychology is an essential part of our lives. Though we may not be able to completely understand it, people have become more aware of its existence and its importance. As more and more people understand its basics, more of it can be utilized to improve ourselves.
Citation: Crane, J., & Hannibel, J. (2009). Psychology Course Companion.Glasgow: Bell and Bain Ltd. .Not correct. - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009 Picture Citations.
1. http://www.isubscribe.com/images/covers/US/1/87/large/PsychologyToday1990510555.jpg
2. http://www.bethel.edu/~johluc/history-resource/history%20images/thumbcollage.jpg
3. http://www.sciamanesimo.com/psicologia.html
4. http://k41.pbase.com/u39/fbcflushing/upload/25368936.Diversity.jpeg
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/eklektick/3163282140/
6. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_38/113788614759PXiQ.jpg
7. http://home.wirehub.nl/~welleman/magazinenew/images/mixture.jpg
8. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hautenature/323188488/ Nice summary! You just need to put the word 'Figure' before your picture numbers (Figure 1). - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009
VonLyn Lee
In Section 1.1 of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), readers are greeted with an elaborate and well rounded explanation about what to expect from the course. It talks about everything, from the different areas of psychology to its history, and from its appeal to its applications in daily life. By introducing Psychology as both a course and a well-respected science, the book provides readers with the perfect path to embark on their psychological journey (Figure 1).
The history of Psychology is one which is similar to many other sciences in that it begun as a part of philosophy (Figure 2). What set it apart though, was that it had its roots in biology. By the middle of the 19th century, Ancient Greek scientists had “a growing interest in the mind and the underlying processes of the brain.” (p 11) Since then, Psychology had gained its own name and had successfully became a science of its own.
Presently, Psychology is becoming more and more popular. This section of the book tells us that people were attracted to self-help books (Figure 3) simply because humans always “want to understand why people behave the way they do.” (p 7) This is because we feel that they can help to control our behavior and consequently, our lives. However, this is untrue as the section later points out that “doubt is part of scientific psychology.” (p 12) It tells us that psychology is based off of theories and empirical investigations, which is when a researcher collects data and analyzes them to form deductive conclusions. However, this lack of certainty is compensated for by the amount of development our critical thinking skills will have undergone (Figure 4). Psychology not only trains us in identifying errors but also makes us critical evaluators, a skill that will stay with us beyond Psychology class.
There are three distinct levels of analysis in Psychology – biological, cognitive, and sociocultural. These levels can take the same situation and yield different conclusions. The reason for this is because they look at different aspects of the situation – a biological level focuses on physiology and genetics (Figure 5), a cognitive level focuses on mental processes (Figure 6), and a sociocultural level focuses on the affects of environment and culture (Figure 7). By observing the differences and similarities between these different levels of analysis, the situation will be much more easy to comprehend.
All in all, this section of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal managed to introduce Psychology in a way which interested me. I enjoyed reading about different aspects of Psychology and learning new concepts about the way in which we live our lives (Figure 8). I especially enjoyed reading the examples and felt they made the concept in question much more easy to understand. I am sure that this section has prepared me well for the psychological journey I am about to embark on.
Reference:
Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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= Nice Job! - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009 Jeff Huang
In Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), Chapter 1.1 is mainly about the basic knowledge behind the subject “psychology”. The common definition of the word is: “the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment” (pg. 8). The definition itself is broken into three different components, with the first part being the word “scientific”, which is the systematic and controlled study of human behavior (Figure 1). Terms “mental processes” and “behavior” are classified as the second component, in which mental processes itself are covert behaviors, such as memory and attitude (Figure 2 & 3). Lastly, the final component is broken down with the terms “internal processes” and “environment”. Psychology is also a multidisciplinary science that includes knowledge from other sciences, like biology, sociology, and anthropology (Figure 4).
In this course, we will be studying Psychology on three levels of analysis: a biological level, which focuses mainly on physiology and genetics, a cognitive level, which are mental processes like memory and attention, and a sociocultural level, which focuses on various environments and cultures (Figure 5). The word “psychology” is originated from two Greek words – “psyche” (the mind) and “logos” (reason). When put together, psychology means the “reasoning about the soul” (pg.11) (Figure 6).
All psychological researchers conduct various experiments, data collection, research, which are also known as empirical studies, in order to seek for an explanation that summarizes, organizes, and explains observations, known as theories (Figure 7). Most theories are built on hypothetical constructs called concepts, and must be carefully defined so they can be tested (Figure 8). In all, after reading this section, I have gained a better understanding on the background behind the subject of psychology. Whether it’s psychological theories, concepts, or empirical studies, I believe I now have a better knowledge on some of the basic concepts in psychology. However, this is only the first step, and I look forward to studying deeper into psychology and learning many new things along the way.
Reference: Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Psychology (2009) by J. Hannibal and J. Crane explains that psychology is defined as 'the scientific study of mental processes and the environment' though at the same time not denying that there is no single definition of psychology that is universally acknowledged. The most important parts of the definition are that in order to fall under the label of psychology, the study must be systematic, involve the survey of mental processes or behavior, and recognizing behavior influencing factors like hormones or genes (Figure 1). Elements of psychology are not limited to those who study psychology, of course. Pop psych, or popular psychology such as elements of astrology (Figure 2) is the term for when psychologists write books that are intended for a wider public, though it should be known that not all are as accurate due to the information edited to suit the wider target audience. Psychology is a combination (Figure 3) of knowledge from the natural and social sciences, such as biology, sociology, and anthropology, so it's not limited to a very concentrated audience to start with, instead being more easy to understand due to the broad range of knowledge covered. With this combination of disciplines, levels (Figure 4) of analysis in psychology have been established. J. Hannibal and J. Crane put all of psychology into three categories; a biological level, a cognitive level, and a sociocultural level.
It wasn't always like this, however (Figure 5). Philosophy came first, and only in the 19th century was the word 'psychology' used by more than a few well learned individuals. From it's greek roots, 'psyche' and 'logos', psychology literally means 'reasoning about the soul'. Philosophers of the past had been wrestling over questions about how human beings come to know the world, which is also known as epistemology. With the help of psychologists, the more scientific studies have shifted epistemology in the direction of cognitive psychology, or the study of sensation, perception, memory, language, and reason in relation to how human beings know the world. Not just anyone with any mindset would be at their full potential without critical thinking skills, so philosophers and psychologists trained to be skeptical and critical to help them make objective judgements on the basis of solid evidence rather than be lazy and skip precision or accuracy. An area that psychology and philosophy have overlapping studies is that of human nature. Ethically, are people good or evil by nature? While before philosophers could only theorize, now psychologists could bring scientific method into play in the search for solid truths.
In such scenarios often psychologists will take a theory and put it to the test through empirical studies. A theory is a statement reasoning out the occurence of a psychological phenomenon. Most theories are built around concepts which are often carefully defined to increase relevance to the theory. With a good grasp of concepts involved, psychologists can then use empirical studies to test the theories being challenged, which are the most basic elements to establishing facts in any science (Figure 6). For instance, in an experiment where half the people taking a test were told that intelligence is static while the other half is told that intelligence can be developed, those with a fixed mindset preformed worse than they could have as opposing to those with the growth mindset, who were more motivated to complete the experiment properly. Some researchers want to explore a given topic and formulate a theory afterwards. Others want to test an exisiting theory. Regardless of their approach, the studies that are conducted can better our lives and improve the world we live in such as with quality counseling over self medication (Figure 8). The study of psychology is conducted by diverse individuals and organizations, but almost everyone is working towards the same goal in the end; bettering our living quality by increasing understanding.
Caitlyn Rife Chapter 1.1 “What is psychology?” of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009) introduces the IB learner to the basis of psychology (Figure 1 building blocks). From giving the definition of psychology to the history of the beginning of psychology to the science and usefulness in real life of psychology chapter 1.1 covers the need-to-know information of psychology.
Chapter 1.1 begins by explaining that psychology is used everyday by people when they read a self-help book or as they give reason to human behavior by way of beliefs or childhood influences. 1.1 then goes on to define psychology and its diversity. A paraphrased definition goes psychology is the scientific study of human mental processes and human behavior as affected by internal and external influences (Figure 2). This definition is greatly examined and explained to the conclusion that because psychology is highly debatable, the definition may not be entirely correct but does give IB psychology students a good idea of what parts of psychology they will be looking at. The diversity of psychology section could be summarized as saying that psychology coupled with multiple disciplines gives more insight and the concept of specified areas of study (Figure 3). The section gives neuroeconomics as an example of combining multiple disciplines, here neuroscience, economics and psychology.
Chapter 1.1 continues on with the introduction of the three base analysis areas of psychology that IB students will be examining. Biological, cognitive and sociocultural are the levels of psychological analysis are the areas explored each with a focus (figure 4). The biological level focuses on the physiology and genetics of a person, while the cognitive level centers on mental processes such as memory or attention. The sociocultural level of psychology focuses on how environment and culture affect a person’s behavior and thinking. The section also explains that the complexity of the human mind allows for all these levels to be considered when explaining a certain behavior (Figure 5). The next section gives a brief history of how psychology began as part of philosophy in ancient Greece to solidifying into an independent science in the 19th century and to today being influenced by ethics, criticism and evolution (Figure 6).
The last few sections of chapter 1.1 layout the scientific study side of psychology; depicting the use of theories and empirical studies in explanations of the human mind and how the science and theories are useful in real life (Figure 7). One section how theories are built on concepts and then are turned into empirical studies that can make conclusions and either support or question the concept. The section also points to how there are always studies that are for a concept and studies whose results go against a concept, so that there will always be doubt in cases that involve dealing with principles. Another section deals with the usefulness of psychological studies in real life. This section sites that though there are various reasons for conduction a study a key goal of psychological studies is to improve the world (Figure 8). The last section is on critical thinking and how being skeptical and critical in the evaluation of information is key to researching psychology and understanding human behavior.
In response to this chapter it seems a good introduction and source of information on psychology. Knowing some of the history and basis of psychology in real life has helped to make me want to know more. The explanation of the three different analysis levels that we will be working with, biological, cognitive, and sociocultural, was good to see how they would be applied to a question and research. All in all I’m glad for the introduction.
To conclude chapter 1.1 was a great introduction to the science of psychology and am looking forward to more. References Crane, J., & Hannibal J. (2009). Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
In Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), the definition of the psychology is “Psychology is the scientific study of mental process and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment” (pg.8). To simplify, psychology is the study of our complex minds (Figure 1). The word psychology comes from two Greek words “psyche” and “logos”. If you combine these two words, it means “reasoning about the soul”(pg.11) (Figure 2).
Psychology is very diverse that it has its own levels of analysis. There are three levels of analysis in Psychology: biological, cognitive, and sociocultural. Same event can be analyzed by these levels but these levels analyze this event differently because they are different levels. They look at different aspects of the event. (Figure 3) Biological level focuses on physiology and genetics, cognitive level focuses on mental processes, and sociocultural level focuses on the environment and culture. Analyzing with these three levels help to look and understand the situation better. (Figure 4)
Psychology is getting popular today because we always “want to understand why people behave the way they do.” You need a parenthetical text citation here since you've quoted the authors. - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009 (pg. 7). Because we are interested in psychology, pop psych or psychobabble is created. (Figure 5) pop psych or psychobabble is a popularized psychological theory or concept that may not be based on psychology. Scientific psychology is based on actual research with evidence while pop psych is based on unsupported beliefs. Psychologists publish their work with the theories with evidence and empirical studies. Therefore, believing in the pop psych is not recommended. (Figure 6)
Psychology is very interesting because it is based on ourself: humans.(Figure 7) I do want to understand why we behave the way we do. Also, psychology is large and contains various topics. Psychology might be hard as it has no solid answer, but it will be fun to explore without the answer.(Figure 8) I am looking foward to it. You need to give a full source (of the book) citation here - tgalvez Aug 22, 2009
Once you've created the slide show, copy the code, click the "Edit" button, click the TV widget button, choose "slideshow" in the left side window, paste the code into the box, click "Save" in that window, then click "Save" in the Editor. Please put your slide show ABOVE your written summary. Put a line between your and the next person's work. DON'T FORGET TO WRITE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR WORK!
Valerie Kung's Summary
Psychology is a very complex, and sometimes a difficult subject, to understand (Figure 1). Psychology explains why we do the things we do. In this course, we’ll learn about why we do certain things. We will study 3 levels of analysis; the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural level. We study three because of the complexity of the subject, and looking at different levels can help to better explain psychology. Psychology actually means “reasoning about the soul”, according to its Greek roots “psyche” and “logos”. Today, it is believed that both “nature [and] nurture… [determine] behavior” (Crane & Hannibal 2009) (Figure 2).
Astrologists believe that their predictions of people are correct; however their predictions are unsupported opinions. Astrology (Figure 3), and other unsupported opinions, is called popular psychology, or pop psych. In psychology, there are different “branches” (Figure 4); there are social psychologists, neuropsychologists, cognitive psychologists, and cross-cultural psychologists. There is a newer “branch” of psychology called neuroeconomics. Neuroeconomics is neuroscience, economics, and psychology all put together into one “branch” of psychology (Figure 5).
There are many theories in psychology (Figure 6). In Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), a theory is “an explanation for a psychological phenomenon”. Most of the theories are based on concepts. Professor Carol Dweck came up with a theory of mindsets. She said that those who have a fixed mindset tend to not take on challenges and don’t try hard at things because they are already smart enough. They also don’t like to have someone do better than them or to be corrected for something they did wrong. On the other hand, those with a growth mindset try hard and take on challenges. They don’t mind being corrected and tries to do just as well as others to succeed (Figure 7). People who have a growth mindset are completely opposite than people who have a fixed mindset. It is important to research any theories or ideas we come up with. Carol Dweck did a study to develop her theories on mindsets. We should also be critical and decide whether or not information we read at school or on the internet is true and backed up by evidence (Figure 8).
With reference to:
Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Picture URL’s:
[1] Rubix Cube: http://r0llthedice.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/rubix-cube/
[2] Nature vs. Nurture: http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/u/ugly_ducklings.asp
[3] Astrology: http://mentalfloss.cachefly.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/astrology.jpg
[4] Branches: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/icestorm_frozen_branches_clouds.jpg
[5] Neuroeconomics: http://neuroeconomics.duke.edu/img/stock/cns_main_02.jpg
[6] Light bulb: http://www.foureyesjokeshop.com/ProductImages/lightbulb_hat.jpg
[7] Success: http://ablogconsulting.com/images/blogging-success-2.jpg
[8] Question: http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/Portals/0/ppg/Question.gif
Nice Work! -
Tommy Fritz
In chapter one section one of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009) they discusses the definition of psychology. This section describes the science of psychology, how it psychological knowledge is found, and what is found from theoretical explanations and empirical investigations.
According to Crane and Hannibal people have a huge appetite for psychology. This is shown by all of the self-help books (figure 1) that people are buying and the psychological magazines they are subscribing to. People go to Psychics (figure 2) to have their future predicted. People use psychology everyday when they describe how they do things using words like beliefs, motives, love, or things like childhood experiences. People don’t just do this about themselves; they do it about other people around the world. This is not the same as the scientific psychology; it is called “folk psychology” A good general definition of psychology given by Crane and Hannibal (2009) is: “Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment.”
Now that I have given a good common definition of psychology I will go into psychology’s diversity. Psychology is very diverse and goes into both natural and social sciences. The knowledge of psychology comes from sciences such as biology, sociology, or anthropology. Psychologist can gather data in many ways. Some of these ways are very simple, such as interviews (figure 3) or simple experiments, while others can be complex, like brain scans (figure 4).
Psychology is an old science. It originally started out as part of philosophy. The ancient Greeks discussed the philosophy of the mind (figure 5). In fact the word “psychology” comes from two Greek words. “Psyche” meaning the mind or soul and “logos” which means reason. Putting those together we can see that psychology literally means the reasoning of the mind or soul. Psychology became its own science in the middle of the 19th century when people began to take interest in how the brain works (figure 6).
Psychology has a few important building blocks (figure 7). Theories are one of these important building blocks. Theories are explanations for psychological phenomenon. Theories are not laws of science; they are not 100% certain, but they are probable. Critical thinking is also part of psychology. We do this every day and sometimes we don’t even realize it. Critical thinking is when you think about things to try to figure out if they are true or not.
Due to the fact that I don’t know much about psychology I think this writing on section one is a good overview. I may have gone into too much detail at times and I may have left something important out. I can say that everything I summarized made sense to me.
In conclusion the most important thing about psychology is that it is always changing and evolving (figure 8) as we humans are.
Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology.Oxford: Oxford University Press.
A self help book:http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/10500000/10506787.jpg
A psychic:http://blippitt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/psychic.jpg
An interview:http://real-timeupdates.com/it/uploads/pics/cache/1217616675.international-job-search
A brain scan:http://www.nextnature.net/research/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/brain-scan_530.jpg
Greek Philosophers:http://kejda.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/schoolathens.jpg
One of the people who got psychology started in the 19th century (Wilhelm Wundt):http://www.psych.upenn.edu/history/wundt.jpg
Some building blocks:http://students.ou.edu/G/Dariela.C.Gonzalez-1/pics/Building%20Blocks.jpg
A sample of evolution:http://www.creationevolution.net/user/cimage/explosm-evolution-t-shirt.jpg
Well Done! -
Steffon Lassman's Summary
In the book Psychology by Crane and Hannibal, it gives a description on what psychology is. The book describes it as a study on how the environment and internal processes can affect a person’s mindset (Figure 1). This book also tells us about different studies of psychology and it is an integrated with other topics, like biology and anthropology, instead of being a topic of specific study.
The second picture I chose to represent the different subjects that psychology has involved in it (Figure 2). The four examples, as used in the book, for subjects integrated in psychology are biology, anthropology, and sociology. The amount of diversity that psychology has to offer has many advantages because it allows people to explore different occupations rather than having one job that only a select people can achieve (Crane & Hannibal 2009).
The next picture I chose it to show how psychology came about(Figure 3). It first started out as philosophy, and psychology literally means “philosophy of the soul”. It was brought up as how did humans get to know the world, what are people by nature, and other questions that seem to be just too far out for us to answer (Crane & Hannibal 2009).
My last picture represents the process of critical thinking (Figure 4). This type of thinking is defined as being able to assess ideas and make good judgments on a topic providing information to support you claim. Although this is one of the important concepts of psychology, how can it be used? Well, it is used to looking at theories. For example, if the theory has certain information that proves it wrong or right, and how does that information show that (Crane & Hannibal 2009).
Source
Crane, J. & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology Course Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sites for Pictures
ed.isu.edu
www.sanjuancollege.edu/ lib/researchguides/
ilearnincambodia.org
csu.bc.ca
You reference 4 pictures in your summary, but there are only 3 in the slide show. Instructions required 8. Be sure to review instructions before submitting work. Also, the pictures (and the reference to them) shouldn't be leading the summary. The pictures are meant to be secondary visual support only referenced parenthetically for this assignment. -
Jaime Lin
What is Psychology?
In Psychology, by Crane and Hannibal (2009), psychology is defined as “the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment.” (pg.8) (Figure 1) The word psychology comes from the two Greek words “psyche” and “logos”, and literally means “reasoning about the soul”. (pg.11) Although there is no one single definition for psychology, the world “scientific” is an extremely important part of the given definition and refers to the systematic and controlled study of human behavior. The terms “mental processes” and “behavior” are also extremely important terms, in that “mental processes” are covert behaviors such as attention, memory, emotion, and attitudes (Figure 2), while other behaviors are overt and can be directly observed or measured.
Epistemology is a term referring to how humans come to know the world. Epistemology comes from the Greek words “episteme” (knowledge) and “logos” (reasoning). This is referred to as “ways of knowing” (11), and is part of what is called cognitive psychology.
There are three levels of analysis in psychology; the biological level, cognitive level, and sociocultural level. Psychology is a very diverse science; it incorporates natural and social sciences such as biology, sociology, and anthropology. Experiments are also conducted, such as brain scanning (Figure 3), to study various topics including love, body language, memory, emotions, motivation, stress, and social development. A newer area of cognitive psychology is neuroeconomics which combines neuroscience, economics, and psychology all into one. (Figure 4)
Pop psych or psychobabble is a term used for popularized psychological theories or concepts that may not have a basis in psychology. The difference between scientific psychology and pop psych is that scientific psychology is based on actual research evidence while pop psych is not, and is based on unsupported beliefs instead. (Figure 5) Psychologists refer to theories and empirical studies when publishing their work. These are building blocks of scientific psychology which provide support for evidence and research. (Figure 6)
Professor Carol Dweck from Stanford University created a theory referring to people’s mindsets that relates to success. She discovered that ‘many talented people do not achieve their potential.’ (pg.12) She concluded that the way people explain things lead to success, rather than pure intelligence or talent. Dweck inferred that people with fixed mindsets believe intelligence is static, and that in wanting to appear intelligent, they don’t accept challenges and ‘consider effort to be a waste of time’. (12) On the other hand, people with growth mindsets believe that intelligence can be developed and therefore enjoy challenges, learn from criticism, find inspiration from others who succeed, and are motivated through setbacks rather than deterred. (Figure 7)
Carol Dweck supported her theories through systematic research. “Scientists are trained to be skeptical and critical.” (pg.14) Like Dweck, one should think critically in order to be able to assess information to know if it is well supported and provides evidence. (Figure 8)
Reference: Crane, Hannibal, J, J (2009). Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Picture URLs:
1. Psychology: http://www.kgv.net/psychology/Psychology%20images/psychology%20head.jpg
2. Brain: http://www2.fi.edu/exhibits/traveling/identity/images/brain-functions.jpg
3. Brain Scans: http://sharkride.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/brain-scans.jpg
4. Neuroeconomics: http://www.cns.nyu.edu/events/symposia/img/08/sympo2008.jpg
5. Pop Psychology/Psychobabble: http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u295/selfhelp.jpg
6. Building Blocks of Psychology: http://www.digital-3d-art.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/dna-cubes.png
7. Inspiration: http://c2.api.ning.com/files/Rsyf-m0YKLDWLTZ0rI23EjRvkOn51AdtMF7Xlzp83FdkAsA8sZsMLKMEVWeVa6u*WnUosfS*Qliq99XoqkVO6IJ0Sz7Fg3gt/inspiration_poster.jpg
8. Question: http://www.granitegrok.com/pix/question%20mark.jpg
Good job! -
Mary Lu
In Psychology Course Companion Chapter 1.1 “What is Psychology?” by Crane and Hannibel (2009), we are introduced to the concept of psychology, what it entails, and how scientists utilize psychology in our lives. We also learn the benefits from being able to improve our thinking.
Psychology related information is passed through a wide range of media today (1). People are able to access books on psychology or watch related TV shows. Since psychology was studied by physiologists in the 19th century(2), there has been an increasing awareness on the subject, and people strive to learn more about the way our brains function (3), and what makes us do what we do. Yet like most forms of information, there are forms of psychology that are based on beliefs and are not based on actual facts. This is known as popular psychology. Another type of psychology is known as “common-sense psychology”, which is a type of everyday psychology we apply in our lives “according to beliefs, motives, and plans” (Crane and Hannibel, 2009).
Psychology offers a unique diversity (4), including its complexity and the wide range of data collection methods (5) available to all psychologists. There is not a single solution, nor a single explanation to a situation in psychology. Since human beings are all unique, the same psychological theory may not apply to all. For example, the notion of “self-efficacy”, defined as someone’s own belief in success affecting their effort, differs for each person. Other studies have been done to prove that successful people aren’t necessarily the most intelligent or talent people, but rather, the people who are capable of explaining.
Psychology also serves to improve our lives. For example, studies done on growth mindset VS set mindset proves that motivation can be learned and practiced, even though some may be naturally self-motivated. These studies help us understand ourselves better and can help us learn what needs to be improved and boosts our self-confidence (6). Though psychology touches upon biology, anthropology, and sociology,(7) it is still a unique subject that can aid us to become more aware of ourselves and the actions we take.
Psychology’s complexity and diversity amazes and interests me. Although studying psychology takes great effort, time, and money, I believe that the ultimate results of those studies will only serve to be beneficial. People who become more aware of themselves can learn their advantages, and what we can do to put ourselves in more advantageous situations. The growth mindset experiment was done on seventh graders, and there was obvious difference between those who learned it and those who did not. In this way, students can learn to study more efficiently, and at the same time be more motivated to learn (8).
Psychology is an essential part of our lives. Though we may not be able to completely understand it, people have become more aware of its existence and its importance. As more and more people understand its basics, more of it can be utilized to improve ourselves.
Citation:
Crane, J., & Hannibel, J. (2009). Psychology Course Companion.Glasgow: Bell and Bain Ltd. . Not correct. -
Picture Citations.
1. http://www.isubscribe.com/images/covers/US/1/87/large/PsychologyToday1990510555.jpg
2. http://www.bethel.edu/~johluc/history-resource/history%20images/thumbcollage.jpg
3. http://www.sciamanesimo.com/psicologia.html
4. http://k41.pbase.com/u39/fbcflushing/upload/25368936.Diversity.jpeg
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/eklektick/3163282140/
6. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_38/113788614759PXiQ.jpg
7. http://home.wirehub.nl/~welleman/magazinenew/images/mixture.jpg
8. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hautenature/323188488/
Nice summary! You just need to put the word 'Figure' before your picture numbers (Figure 1). -
VonLyn Lee
In Section 1.1 of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), readers are greeted with an elaborate and well rounded explanation about what to expect from the course. It talks about everything, from the different areas of psychology to its history, and from its appeal to its applications in daily life. By introducing Psychology as both a course and a well-respected science, the book provides readers with the perfect path to embark on their psychological journey (Figure 1).
The history of Psychology is one which is similar to many other sciences in that it begun as a part of philosophy (Figure 2). What set it apart though, was that it had its roots in biology. By the middle of the 19th century, Ancient Greek scientists had “a growing interest in the mind and the underlying processes of the brain.” (p 11) Since then, Psychology had gained its own name and had successfully became a science of its own.
Presently, Psychology is becoming more and more popular. This section of the book tells us that people were attracted to self-help books (Figure 3) simply because humans always “want to understand why people behave the way they do.” (p 7) This is because we feel that they can help to control our behavior and consequently, our lives. However, this is untrue as the section later points out that “doubt is part of scientific psychology.” (p 12) It tells us that psychology is based off of theories and empirical investigations, which is when a researcher collects data and analyzes them to form deductive conclusions. However, this lack of certainty is compensated for by the amount of development our critical thinking skills will have undergone (Figure 4). Psychology not only trains us in identifying errors but also makes us critical evaluators, a skill that will stay with us beyond Psychology class.
There are three distinct levels of analysis in Psychology – biological, cognitive, and sociocultural. These levels can take the same situation and yield different conclusions. The reason for this is because they look at different aspects of the situation – a biological level focuses on physiology and genetics (Figure 5), a cognitive level focuses on mental processes (Figure 6), and a sociocultural level focuses on the affects of environment and culture (Figure 7). By observing the differences and similarities between these different levels of analysis, the situation will be much more easy to comprehend.
All in all, this section of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal managed to introduce Psychology in a way which interested me. I enjoyed reading about different aspects of Psychology and learning new concepts about the way in which we live our lives (Figure 8). I especially enjoyed reading the examples and felt they made the concept in question much more easy to understand. I am sure that this section has prepared me well for the psychological journey I am about to embark on.
Reference:
Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Images:
Figure 1: http://keeganwong.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/305187-6-the-path-ahead.jpg
Figure 2: http://www.scarsdaleschools.org/mslib/images/socrates.jpg
Figure 3: http://www.insidesocal.com/tv/selfhelp.jpg
Figure 4: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/blogspotting/archives/the-thinker4.jpg
Figure 5: http://www.churchofsaintmary.org/images/ParentChildPlaygroup.jpg
Figure 6: http://www.psy.uq.edu.au/page/image/activity/Psychology4a.jpg
Figure 7: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100kr/182293237/
Figure 8: http://oldweb.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/psychology/Psychology.gif
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Nice Job! -
Jeff Huang
In Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), Chapter 1.1 is mainly about the basic knowledge behind the subject “psychology”. The common definition of the word is: “the scientific study of mental processes and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment” (pg. 8). The definition itself is broken into three different components, with the first part being the word “scientific”, which is the systematic and controlled study of human behavior (Figure 1). Terms “mental processes” and “behavior” are classified as the second component, in which mental processes itself are covert behaviors, such as memory and attitude (Figure 2 & 3). Lastly, the final component is broken down with the terms “internal processes” and “environment”. Psychology is also a multidisciplinary science that includes knowledge from other sciences, like biology, sociology, and anthropology (Figure 4).
In this course, we will be studying Psychology on three levels of analysis: a biological level, which focuses mainly on physiology and genetics, a cognitive level, which are mental processes like memory and attention, and a sociocultural level, which focuses on various environments and cultures (Figure 5). The word “psychology” is originated from two Greek words – “psyche” (the mind) and “logos” (reason). When put together, psychology means the “reasoning about the soul” (pg.11) (Figure 6).
All psychological researchers conduct various experiments, data collection, research, which are also known as empirical studies, in order to seek for an explanation that summarizes, organizes, and explains observations, known as theories (Figure 7). Most theories are built on hypothetical constructs called concepts, and must be carefully defined so they can be tested (Figure 8).
In all, after reading this section, I have gained a better understanding on the background behind the subject of psychology. Whether it’s psychological theories, concepts, or empirical studies, I believe I now have a better knowledge on some of the basic concepts in psychology. However, this is only the first step, and I look forward to studying deeper into psychology and learning many new things along the way.
Reference:
Crane, J., & Hannibal, J. (2009). Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Picture URLs:
http://www.kk.org/quantifiedself/gardner-sleep-experiment.jpg
http://www.koodoolounge.co.uk/attitude.png
http://images.salon.com/health/feature/1999/09/16/memory/cov_memory.gif
http://outlook.wustl.edu/summer2004/images/feature/clover.jpg
http://travel.sky.com/cms/images/inspiration/whacky_costumes/thailand_neck_girl_PHOTOSHOT_520x286.jpg
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/06/25/science/26soul.xlarge1.jpg
http://www.nitt.edu/sym/tachyons/Tachyons/normal_Super-String_Theory1600.jpg
http://adsoftheworld.com/files/ecopower_wipro.jpg
Well Done! -
Henry Chen ----
Psychology (2009) by J. Hannibal and J. Crane explains that psychology is defined as 'the scientific study of mental processes and the environment' though at the same time not denying that there is no single definition of psychology that is universally acknowledged. The most important parts of the definition are that in order to fall under the label of psychology, the study must be systematic, involve the survey of mental processes or behavior, and recognizing behavior influencing factors like hormones or genes (Figure 1). Elements of psychology are not limited to those who study psychology, of course. Pop psych, or popular psychology such as elements of astrology (Figure 2) is the term for when psychologists write books that are intended for a wider public, though it should be known that not all are as accurate due to the information edited to suit the wider target audience. Psychology is a combination (Figure 3) of knowledge from the natural and social sciences, such as biology, sociology, and anthropology, so it's not limited to a very concentrated audience to start with, instead being more easy to understand due to the broad range of knowledge covered. With this combination of disciplines, levels (Figure 4) of analysis in psychology have been established. J. Hannibal and J. Crane put all of psychology into three categories; a biological level, a cognitive level, and a sociocultural level.
It wasn't always like this, however (Figure 5). Philosophy came first, and only in the 19th century was the word 'psychology' used by more than a few well learned individuals. From it's greek roots, 'psyche' and 'logos', psychology literally means 'reasoning about the soul'. Philosophers of the past had been wrestling over questions about how human beings come to know the world, which is also known as epistemology. With the help of psychologists, the more scientific studies have shifted epistemology in the direction of cognitive psychology, or the study of sensation, perception, memory, language, and reason in relation to how human beings know the world. Not just anyone with any mindset would be at their full potential without critical thinking skills, so philosophers and psychologists trained to be skeptical and critical to help them make objective judgements on the basis of solid evidence rather than be lazy and skip precision or accuracy. An area that psychology and philosophy have overlapping studies is that of human nature. Ethically, are people good or evil by nature? While before philosophers could only theorize, now psychologists could bring scientific method into play in the search for solid truths.
In such scenarios often psychologists will take a theory and put it to the test through empirical studies. A theory is a statement reasoning out the occurence of a psychological phenomenon. Most theories are built around concepts which are often carefully defined to increase relevance to the theory. With a good grasp of concepts involved, psychologists can then use empirical studies to test the theories being challenged, which are the most basic elements to establishing facts in any science (Figure 6). For instance, in an experiment where half the people taking a test were told that intelligence is static while the other half is told that intelligence can be developed, those with a fixed mindset preformed worse than they could have as opposing to those with the growth mindset, who were more motivated to complete the experiment properly. Some researchers want to explore a given topic and formulate a theory afterwards. Others want to test an exisiting theory. Regardless of their approach, the studies that are conducted can better our lives and improve the world we live in such as with quality counseling over self medication (Figure 8). The study of psychology is conducted by diverse individuals and organizations, but almost everyone is working towards the same goal in the end; bettering our living quality by increasing understanding.
Pictures:
http://www.uhseport.netpublishedALaALazarewiczweblog1image.32748.jpg
http://www.allthingshealing.com/Portals/2/Stock-Photos/Astrology-Astromony/astrology1.jpg
http://vanessaleighsblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/diversity-haende-171x143-pi.jpg
http://www.ist-mescal.org/photo/ljubljana-06-03/union-hotel-floors.jpg
http://images.elfwood.com/art/b/a/bahne/bog.jpg
http://students.ou.edu/G/Dariela.C.Gonzalez-1/pics/Building%20Blocks.jpg http://www2.mpsaz.org/rmhs/academics/counseling/images/clip_image002.jpg
Good Summary! When you cite the author(s) within the sentence and parenthetically, you do not write their first name initial. -
Caitlyn Rife
Chapter 1.1 “What is psychology?” of Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009) introduces the IB learner to the basis of psychology (Figure 1 building blocks). From giving the definition of psychology to the history of the beginning of psychology to the science and usefulness in real life of psychology chapter 1.1 covers the need-to-know information of psychology.
Chapter 1.1 begins by explaining that psychology is used everyday by people when they read a self-help book or as they give reason to human behavior by way of beliefs or childhood influences. 1.1 then goes on to define psychology and its diversity. A paraphrased definition goes psychology is the scientific study of human mental processes and human behavior as affected by internal and external influences (Figure 2). This definition is greatly examined and explained to the conclusion that because psychology is highly debatable, the definition may not be entirely correct but does give IB psychology students a good idea of what parts of psychology they will be looking at. The diversity of psychology section could be summarized as saying that psychology coupled with multiple disciplines gives more insight and the concept of specified areas of study (Figure 3). The section gives neuroeconomics as an example of combining multiple disciplines, here neuroscience, economics and psychology.
Chapter 1.1 continues on with the introduction of the three base analysis areas of psychology that IB students will be examining. Biological, cognitive and sociocultural are the levels of psychological analysis are the areas explored each with a focus (figure 4). The biological level focuses on the physiology and genetics of a person, while the cognitive level centers on mental processes such as memory or attention. The sociocultural level of psychology focuses on how environment and culture affect a person’s behavior and thinking. The section also explains that the complexity of the human mind allows for all these levels to be considered when explaining a certain behavior (Figure 5). The next section gives a brief history of how psychology began as part of philosophy in ancient Greece to solidifying into an independent science in the 19th century and to today being influenced by ethics, criticism and evolution (Figure 6).
The last few sections of chapter 1.1 layout the scientific study side of psychology; depicting the use of theories and empirical studies in explanations of the human mind and how the science and theories are useful in real life (Figure 7). One section how theories are built on concepts and then are turned into empirical studies that can make conclusions and either support or question the concept. The section also points to how there are always studies that are for a concept and studies whose results go against a concept, so that there will always be doubt in cases that involve dealing with principles. Another section deals with the usefulness of psychological studies in real life. This section sites that though there are various reasons for conduction a study a key goal of psychological studies is to improve the world (Figure 8). The last section is on critical thinking and how being skeptical and critical in the evaluation of information is key to researching psychology and understanding human behavior.
In response to this chapter it seems a good introduction and source of information on psychology. Knowing some of the history and basis of psychology in real life has helped to make me want to know more. The explanation of the three different analysis levels that we will be working with, biological, cognitive, and sociocultural, was good to see how they would be applied to a question and research. All in all I’m glad for the introduction.
To conclude chapter 1.1 was a great introduction to the science of psychology and am looking forward to more.
References
Crane, J., & Hannibal J. (2009). Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Figure 1: http://donwestjr.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/building-blocks.jpg
Figure 2: http://lauriekendrick.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/psychology.jpg
Figure 3: http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/img/missing_piece_puzzle.jpg
Figure 4: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/lifecycle/images/1-2-4-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.jpg
Figure 5: http://anthropology.si.edu/outreach/anthnote/Spring00/cartoon1.jpg
Figure 6: http://www.isabelperez.com/psico/images/shrinkcouch.jpg
Figure 7: http://www.ebr.lib.la.us/teens/teenzone/math.png
Figure 8: http://www.dragonflybiofuel.com/images/fotolia_948088_000.jpg
Nice Work! -
Hae Sun
What is psychology?
In Psychology by Crane and Hannibal (2009), the definition of the psychology is “Psychology is the scientific study of mental process and behavior and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment” (pg.8). To simplify, psychology is the study of our complex minds (Figure 1). The word psychology comes from two Greek words “psyche” and “logos”. If you combine these two words, it means “reasoning about the soul”(pg.11) (Figure 2).
Psychology is very diverse that it has its own levels of analysis. There are three levels of analysis in Psychology: biological, cognitive, and sociocultural. Same event can be analyzed by these levels but these levels analyze this event differently because they are different levels. They look at different aspects of the event. (Figure 3) Biological level focuses on physiology and genetics, cognitive level focuses on mental processes, and sociocultural level focuses on the environment and culture. Analyzing with these three levels help to look and understand the situation better. (Figure 4)
Psychology is getting popular today because we always “want to understand why people behave the way they do.” You need a parenthetical text citation here since you've quoted the authors. -
Psychology is very interesting because it is based on ourself: humans.(Figure 7) I do want to understand why we behave the way we do. Also, psychology is large and contains various topics. Psychology might be hard as it has no solid answer, but it will be fun to explore without the answer.(Figure 8) I am looking foward to it.
You need to give a full source (of the book) citation here -
Figure 1: http://www.ep.org.au/images/brain-maze3.gif
Figure 2: http://www.doubleexposure.com/uploads/psychology_and_gender.jpg
Figure 3: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/895220635_71c0ea6ee4.jpg
Figure 4: http://www.kevinbeare.com/images/OutsourceAnswer.jpg
Figure 5:http://www.saidaonline.com/en/newsgfx/horoscope%20signs%202.gif
Figure 6: http://www.offthemarkcartoons.com/cartoons/1993-11-20.gif
Figure 7: http://www.astro.ufl.edu/images/People/People_.jpg
Figure 8: http://www.paranormalknowledge.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/psychology.jpg
Good Summary. Put periods AFTER parenthetical references whether it's a Figure number reference or text reference. -